To Kill a Mockingbird
Intiman
September 14 - Octoer 28, 2007
One of the most well known pieces of literary fiction known by most middle school students in the country comes to life at the Intiman under Christopher Sergel's adaptation and Fracaswell Hyman's direction. Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, though a very narative-driven story originally, translates very well to stage.
Patti Coheour playing Maudie Atkinson, the narrator of the story, carried a huge load on her shoulders, speaking the voice of Harper Lee. Her presence was never overbearing, but exactly precise and fitting with the action on stage. Meanwhile, Josephine Howell playing Calpurnia does a phenominal job countering to the more extreme end. Her vocal performance and her total comitment to her character draw the audience in faster than anything else. David Bishins as Atticus Finch holds up his end extremely well. Such a difficult and well-known role brings a lot of pressure onto the performer and Bishins carries himself with passion and presence beyond the call of duty.
Alec Hammond's set design is the most prominent and captivating aspect of the show. With bloody chairs hanging from nooses in the ceiling and a tree dripping with blood surrounded by twisted houses. Above this is Greg Sullivan's lighting design encapsulates the essence of the play extremely well. A certain standout is the finale sequence when the lights become most of the show itself.
Overall, this show provies for the audience very well. While rather slow and seeming to plod along at some points, the show is very well put-together and very entertaining. It brings Harper Lee's story to a modern audience as well as anything could.
Review by Nigel Andrews
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